With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.

Thank you so much for sharing all of your stories. I know this takes courage, especially when you are not feeling well. You all need to know that help is available. If you're actively thinking about suicide, get help now!

I was struck by the number of you that have lost someone to suicide. I was also moved by the number of you that have had significant losses in life for any reason. I am sincerely sorry for the losses that you have experienced and know your emotional pain will get better with time.

Depression severity can vary between individuals and episodes. For instance, some people will have anxiety that accompanies their depression, while others do not. We call medications "anti-depressants," but almost all of these effectively treat anxiety as well. While it is true that there is no quick fix or cure, there are keys to successfully treating depression to decrease suffering.

Obtaining the correct diagnosis is so important and sometimes this will change over time. Considering the patient as a whole is crucial to determine how to develop an effective treatment plan. Medications alone are rarely enough. You may need to try more than one medication or a combination. Medications are not always needed for depression, depending on the severity.

Therapy alone can be extremely effective, yet therapy is not for everyone. You need to be comfortable with your provider; therapy is meant to be a safe place where you can talk and not feel judged. Therapists can help by listening and facilitating change, if the patient has insight and is ready for change. Therapists don't make people better or fix them. Therapy is a partnership and takes working together. Keep an open mind during therapy as well. Being your own expert on your illness is important too. Obtain as much information as you can, have your questions answered, know your options, and then you can choose which form of therapy (medications, talk, etc.) you'd like to begin.

On this site, we will continue to read your comments and address topics as best we can. More later on ECT, but know that it is available all over the country. Thank you again for your interest in depression.

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